Gift ideas · Toddlers
Gifts for toddlers that aren't more noise
Toddlers don't need toys that do things. They need toys they can do things to: push, stack, dump, fill and carry around the house. The best toddler gifts are simple and sturdy, and most of them don't need batteries.
Remind me beforeor
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To push and move
- 1A push walker with blocksSomething to lean on while they figure out walking. Find one
- 2A ride-on toy they scoot with their feetIt burns off a lot of energy inside. Find one
- 3A soft climbing setFoam blocks to climb on, so the couch gets a break. Find one
- 4A toddler slideIndoor in winter, outdoor in summer. Find one
To build and sort
To pretend and make noise
- 1A set of play foodThey'll cook you forty meals a day. Find one
- 2A soft baby doll and a blanketFeeding someone and putting them to bed is the first pretend game. Find one
- 3A toddler instrument setShakers, a tambourine and a little drum. Loud, but the good kind. Find one
- 4Lift-the-flap board booksThick pages they can turn themselves. Find one
What makes these work
- Look for the 0 to 3 warning on the box and skip anything with small parts.
- Pick toys with no single right way to play. A toddler will find ten.
- Rotate. Put half the toys away and swap them every couple of weeks, and old toys feel new.
What usually doesn't get used
Toys that light up and talk. They do the playing for the toddler, and they get old fast for everyone in the house.
Find gifts that match how they play
The gifts that get used match how a kid already likes to play. The quiz takes two minutes, and nothing about your kid is sent anywhere.
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